The family of Dedan Kimathi, a renowned Mau Mau freedom fighter, has called on the government to expedite the exhumation of his remains from Kamiti Maximum Prison premises, where he was executed and buried in 1957.
Despite promises from Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in September 2023 to expedite the process of locating the grave and exhumation, the family expressed concern over the continued delays.
Wanjugu Kimathi, Dedan Kimathi’s daughter while commemorating the freedom fighter’s death on Sunday, February 18 called on the state to make heed of their promise and accelerate the search and exhumation of her father’s remains.
She expressed concerns about the diminishing number of sources who could help trace her father’s grave.
“We have noted with great concern that as we (the family) are told to wait, those people who participated in Kimathi’s burial or were working in the prison at the time or in the forest, are dying.”
“Only a few people who can help with the search are remaining.” she emphasized.
Prolonged delay in exhuming Dedan’s remains
The family further expressed fear that the opportunity to discover the truth about their father’s final resting place is slipping away, prompting calls on the government and the international community to take action.
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During Dedan Kimathi’s 67th commemoration at the Nairobi CBD where his statue is erected, the family members, holding a placard with the words ‘colonialism never really ended’ lamented over the unfulfilled promises made by the deputy president during the burial of the late Kimathi’s widow Mukami almost a year ago.
“We are tired of being lied to. This government promised that they would exhume the remains of our dad and accord him a decent burial at his home in Kinangop, Nyandarua County. But up to now, it is all lies,” Maina said.
“I think they want everyone to forget about us and the Mau Mau heroes, but we will not forget. Every year on February 18 we remembered the day our dad was killed. It’s now 67 years and no one seems to care,” added Simon Maina, the freedom fighter’s son.
In 2007, there was an attempt to exhume Dedan Kimathi’s body from Kamiti prison, with plans to have him reburied at a site near Langata Road, Nairobi, named the Heroes Arch.
Also read: Late Dedan Kimathis Widow Mukami Kimathi is Dead
However, the exhumation never took place, leaving the family awaiting the government to fulfill its promise.
Dedan Kimathi’s legacy
Dedan Kimathi was one of the heroes who fought for Kenya’s independence. He was killed by colonialists who had his body buried in an unknown location.
However, the government of Kenya’s first president in 1968 revealed that his remains were buried at Kamiti Maximum Prison.
In 2023, the Dedan Kimathi Foundation claimed it had discovered his grave at the Prison and sought permission to exhume it but all the efforts proved futile.
